Article forming apparatus



Nov. 11, 1941. v F. A. scHuLT z. 2,262,053

ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed D9019, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l M/Vf/VTO/F v I A A. SCHUL rz ATTOR/Vf) Nov. 11; 1941. F. A. SCHULTZ ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS Frank A. Schultz, Chicag0, lll., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 9, 1938, Serial No. 244,773

1 Claim. (Cl. 18-42) This invention relates to article forming apparatus, and more particularly to a sectional mold or die for molding telephone handset handles.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive sectional mold or die for forming articles from plastic materials.

In accordance with the above object, one embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision of a sectional mold or die for molding telephone handset handles having re-entry outside contours, the said die being split into a plurality of sections which are readily separable to permit the removal of the molded handle therefrom, the design and arrangement of the die sections being such that no additional molding flashes result from the split construction.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a punch and die for molding telephone handset handles, the die being of a split construction embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sectional dies with the several sections thereof separated from each other;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a telephone handset handle adapted to be molded by the punch and die illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inelusive.

The invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied in a sectional die for molding telephone handset handles of the type shown in Fig. 6, which comprises two substantially semispherical portions 10 and II interconnected by a handle portion [2. The semi-spherical portion I0 is externally threaded, as indicated at l3, for receiving a transmitter cap I4 shown in dotted outline in Fig. 6, and the other semi-spherical portion is similarly threaded, as indicated at l5, for receiving a receiver cap l6, also shown in dotted outline in Fig. 6.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated therein a multi-section molding die and a cooperating punch 2| adapted to mold the telephone handset handle shown in Fig. 6. The punch is of conventional onepiece construction and maybe attached as usual to a punch plate 22 which is adapted. to be fixed to the upper platen of a suitable molding press (not shown) The multi-section die may be removably supported in a cavity 24 of a die supporting yoke 25 which is attached to. the lower platen of the press. The usual ejector pins, such as indicated at 21, may be provided for automatically removing the die from the cavity of the supporting yoke upon separation of the punch from the die. The general construction and arrangement thus far referred to is well known in the art and, therefore, no further description thereof is believed necessary toa complete understanding of the present invention.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the die 20 is split, as shown, into three readily separable sections 28, 29 and 30. The central section 29 is substantially T-shaped in cross section and the sections 28 and 30 are formed with recesses 3| and 32, respectively, (Fig. 4) in their interengaging surfaces for embracing the depending portion 34 of the central die section. A pair of pins 35, 35 project laterally from both sides of the depending portion of the central die section and are receivable in apertures 36, 36 in the die sections 28 and 3B for the purpose of accurately aligning the several sections of the die.

The die sections 28 and 30 are each provided at one end with a semi-circular recess 31 and at their opposite ends with a semi-circular recess 38. The recesses 31 cooperate to form a circular recess for receiving an internally threaded ring 40 which serves to mold the thread I3 on the transmitter cap receiving portion of the telephone handset handle. The recesses 38 cooperate to form a circular recess for receiving an internally threaded ring 42 for molding the thread [5 on the receiver cap portion of the handle.

A removable insert 44 is coaxially supported within the threaded ring 40 with its upper end portion projecting above the threaded ring and suitably shaped to impart the desired configuration to the interior of the semi-spherical transmitter end ill of the handset handle. A depending reduced shank portion of the insert 44 has a radially projecting pin 41 which extends into a slot formed by cooperating notches 48, 48 in the interengaging surfaces of the die sections 28 and 30. This prevents turning or angular displacement of the insert during the molding operation.

A removable insert 50, similar to insert 44, is

coaxially supported within the threaded ring 42 with its upper end portion projecting above the threaded ring and suitably shaped to impart the required configuration to the interior of the semispherical receiver end ll of the handset handle. The insert 50 is locked against angular displacement by a pin and slot arrangement which is similar to that described above in connection with the insert 44.

In the operation of the apparatus, the die sections and inserts are assembled together and placed in the cavity 24 of supporting yoke 25, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. The required amount of molding material is then placed in the die, after which the material is compressed between the punch and the die. By the simultaneous application of heat and pressure the material is molded into a homogeneous handset handle having the desired shape and contour imparted thereto by the punch and die. The punch and die are then separated from each other and simultaneously therewith the die may be lifted out of its supporting yoke cavity by means of the ejector pins 21. Next, the molded handle is removed from the die within which it is retained upon separation of the punch from the die. This is easily and quickly accomplished when employing the split or multi-section die construction of the present invention. For example, the die sections 28 and. 30 are first separated from each other and from the central die section 29, as shown in Fig. 4. The inserts 44 and 50 are then easily removed, after which the threaded rings 40 and 42 are readily unscrewed from the transmitter and receiver end portions, respectively, of the molded handle. The molded handle is now free to be separated from the central die section 29.

In the molding of the handle, a thin fin or socalled molding flash, such as indicated at 60, is formed at the parting line between the punch and the die members. This is removed preferably by cutting it away by means of a tool adapted to leave a uniform groove in place of the fin, as indicated at 62 in Fig. 6.

It will be noted that no additional fins or molding flashes result from the split or multi-section construction of the die, since the molding material isnot exposed to any of the parting lines between the die sections 28, 29 and 30 and, therefore, the parting lines between these die sections do not produce any fins or molding flashes.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof herein illustrated and described, except insofar as is defined by the appended claim.

- What is claimed is:

In an apparatus for molding telephone handset handles having a semi-spherical portion at each end thereof, a split molding die comprising a central section having a reduced depending portion, a pair of complementary sections having recessed central portions for embracing said depending portion and end portions having semicircular recesses cooperating to provide a circular recess at each end of the die, and a removable threaded ring fitting in each of said circular recesses for molding a screw thread on each of the semi-spherical end portions of the handset handle.

FRANK A. SCHULTZ. 

